Abortion law must change to save lives, argues father of Savita

The father of a pregnant woman who died after doctors in Ireland refused her an abortion during a miscarriage has demanded a change to the country’s laws.

Savita Halappanavar died from a miscarriage after being denied an abortion (Picture: Reuters)

Andanappa Yalagi claimed that altering the complex legislation would save lives after his daughter begged for a medical termination but was denied by ‘inhumane’ doctors, who allegedly told her: ‘This is a Catholic country’.

Speaking from his home in southern India, he urged his government ‘to put pressure on Ireland so this cannot happen again’.

His 31-year-old daughter, Savita Halappanavar, was 17 weeks pregnant when she died at Galway University Hospital last month after suffering a miscarriage and septicaemia.

Her husband claimed his dentist wife pleaded for a termination after complaining of agonising pain.

Doctors are said to have denied her requests because the foetus’s heart was beating

Mr Yalagi described them as inhumane and is considering legal action.

‘They are doctors but they were not humane. If they had been humane, they would have treated my daughter.

‘I do not want this to happen to other people. I am very angry.’

He added that no health or government officials had expressed any remorse over his daughter’s death, which prompted a 10,000-strong protest in Dublin at the weekend. Two investigations have been launched into her death.